Madeleine Louarn, an educator, set up a theatre workshop to provide a creative outlet for people with disabilities by encouraging them to participate in the process and be engaged participants. She laid the foundation of Atelier Catalyse in the early 1980s with a troupe made up of people with disabilities, all of them being the residents of Les Genêts d'Or in Morlaix. Since then, she has fiercely supported a theater where art and beauty are accessible to everyone, irrespective of their history, social location, or differences. The Atelier was institutionalized with the patronage of a foundation representing the subsidized company of the Théâtre de l’Entresort in 1994. In 2005, Jean-François Auguste joined Atelier Catalyse as director and co-signed most shows with her. Atelier Catalyse’s approach to theatre and disability is deeply rooted in a commitment to inclusivity and diversity. The group challenges traditional notions of being a performer by bringing together actors with different backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. It creates space for new forms of expression and creativity to emerge. In addition to its artistic impact, Atelier Catalyse’s work has had a tangible social impact, particularly in promoting greater awareness and understanding of disability issues. By showcasing the talents of disabled actors and challenging stereotypes, the group helps to break down barriers and encourage greater social inclusion. Overall, Atelier Catalyse is an inspiring example of the power of performance art to promote social change and create a more inclusive and equitable society. Through its innovative productions, collaborative approach, and commitment to inclusivity, the group is helping to redefine what it means to be a performer and a member of society and inspiring others to do the same. What started as a small workshop led to the establishment of The National Center for Adapted Creation (CNCA). CNCA aims to promote art and culture that is accessible to individuals with disabilities. It provides artists and cultural organizations with training, resources, and support to create inclusive and accessible works and events. Additionally, the CNCA hosts exhibitions, performances, and workshops highlighting the abilities of artists with disabilities and bringing attention to the significance of accessibility in the arts. The centre aims to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in cultural and artistic experiences and that their contributions to the cultural realm are recognized and appreciated. The organisation works through its four departments:
- a permanent troupe of artists who help the performers with their skills and networks, - a national creation centre facilitating art and dialogue around contemporary issues. - an artistic action centre that allows people to have access to cultural experiences, and - a National Research Centre that acts as a knowledge production and dissemination centre. Madeleine Louarn advocated that theatre provides a platform where people can explore possibilities of life beyond their limitations. The incredible diversity and complexity of the authors and texts she chose for her actors, from Bread of Souls based on the tales of Luzel in 1996 to Shakespeare, Daniíl Jarms, Thomas Bernhard, Ibsen, Lewis Caroll, Beckett, Anton Chekhov, Kafka, and many others bear witness to her commitment to her beliefs. In their 2022 staging, Gulliver, le dernier voyage, Atelier Catalyse performs a new version of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.